MONTREAL — A government-mandated committee said Quebec’s family law regime should be updated to better reflect today’s reality of increased common-law marriages and children born under such unions.
The panel of experts was convened following the high-profile divorce case involving a woman and her common-law partner, a prominent Quebec businessman who contended he should not have to pay alimony because they were never legally married.
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It was widely known as the Eric vs Lola case, because the pair was not identified under a court order to protect the identities of their three children.
The advisory committee released a 600-page report today containing 82 recommendations.
Among them are the creation of a mandatory parental regime, which would set out obligations towards children born during a common-law union as well as parents following a split – to a certain point.
The report also suggested that a parent at an economic disadvantage due to end of a relationship would have the right to claim compensation for the time spent taking care of children instead of pursuing a career.
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